Breakenridge: Premier in lockstep with U.S. ‘failure of policy and science’

As parts of the U.S. — much like Alberta — continue to grapple with measles outbreaks, the American Health and Human Services secretary has been making some unfortunate statements about the measles vaccine.

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Although Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tepidly endorsed the vaccine earlier this year, he more recently claimed that vaccine-induced immunity is short-lived and that the vaccine hadn’t been “safety-tested” — both of which are untrue. This is the same man who previously falsely claimed that the polio vaccine had killed more people than polio itself.

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The same man, now the agency’s secretary, has fostered chaos and uncertainty around vaccines by abruptly firing the entire vaccine advisory panel at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

It is dismaying to see what is unfolding south of the border, but it is alarming to see Alberta’s government taking its cue on these matters from this administration. I don’t think the premier has jumped on the 51st state bandwagon, but it’s unclear why we’re deferring to the Americans on any issue.

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In a late Friday afternoon news dump last week, the Alberta government abruptly announced a massive overhaul of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

Essentially, it means that Albertans who are not immunocompromised or who do not receive certain provincial social benefits will have to pay out-of-pocket for the vaccine. Accessing the vaccine will be more difficult, as it will only be offered in public health clinics.

The government claims it is “committed to ensuring Albertans who are at highest risk” still have access to vaccines. However, that does not include pregnant women nor does it include those who work in health-care settings. It should be noted that the standing guidance from Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends a vaccine for at-risk groups, including both pregnant women and health-care workers.

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But apparently, Alberta’s government is more interested in RFK’s guidance than NACI’s. Friday’s news release notes that “recently, the Federal Drug Administration in the United States stopped recommending routine COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and healthy children.” There is no mention of any standing recommendations from any Canadian bodies or officials.

It could be a coincidence, but it’s interesting to note that the executive director of the premier’s office has previously praised Kennedy, saying it’s “hard not to cheer for this man” and that he “seems to possess great character.”

We should also take note of the fact that a top official with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control resigned this month in response to Kennedy’s attempts to force a change in COVID-19 vaccine guidance. The CDC’s own advisory committee was about to decide on new guidance before Kennedy imposed his own.

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We should also take note of the scathing piece in the Journal of the American Medical Association, describing Kennedy’s changes as “a failure of process, policy and science.” Perhaps the same could be said of how Alberta reached its decision.

COVID-19 vaccine guidance will obviously continue to evolve, as will provincial coverage and availability of vaccines. But there should be a science-based approach to that.

It’s reasonable for the province to be concerned about vaccine wastage, but it has shown little interest in the past in promoting uptake of the vaccines we have on hand. But when they defer to the U.S. decision, or when the premier herself says of the vaccine that she thinks “it doesn’t work particularly well,” this is about something else.

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Last summer, following a UCP MLA’s claim that “the wheels are in motion” for getting rid of COVID-19 vaccines, the health minister declared “Alberta’s government is not considering any changes to COVID-19 vaccine funding or access.”

Yet, we now have a fairly significant change being implemented.

It’s more than fair to wonder how these decisions are being made and what — or who — is influencing that.

Rob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based podcaster and writer. He can be found at robbreakenridge.ca and reached at rob.breakenridge@gmail.com

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